‘Our Senior Year’: Suicide Prevention walk held for final time in Riverview Park
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLINTON COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU Ashton Peters, front row center, is pictured with participants in the final Cimarron and Benjamin Thomas Memorial Walk at Riverview Park.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLINTON COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU Ashton Peter’s father, Bryon, and Cimarron Thomas’s grandfather Dale Thomas are pictured during the event.
ASHTON PETERS/FOR THE EXPRESS A balloon release was one portion of the suicide prevention walk that took place in Riverview Park.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLINTON COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU Ashton Peters, front row center, is pictured with participants in the final Cimarron and Benjamin Thomas Memorial Walk at Riverview Park.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLINTON COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU Ashton Peter’s father, Bryon, and Cimarron Thomas’s grandfather Dale Thomas are pictured during the event.
ASHTON PETERS/FOR THE EXPRESS A balloon release was one portion of the suicide prevention walk that took place in Riverview Park.
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LOCKPORT -- The final Cimarron and Benjamin Thomas Memorial Walk was held to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
The walk, organized by Ashton Peters -- a recent Central Mountain High School graduate -- was held in Riverview Park on July 22 for the fourth year in a row.
This initiative began after the tragic loss of his childhood friend, Cimarron Thomas, and was continued in honor of her father, Benjamin, who also sadly took his own life a year after his daughter.
Ashton partnered with 22 Too Many, a nonprofit organization dedicated to decreasing the rate of veteran suicides.
Having just graduated from high school, Ashton fittingly named this year's walk "Our Senior Year." He also announced that this year's walk would be the last, marking the end of an era.
However, Ashton's impact is indisputable. He has provided comfort to many who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide, and has successfully raised nearly $8,000 over the past five years for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Peters thanked 22 Too Many, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Woodward Township and a range of businesses who helped make the event a success.
Family and friends of Riley Houser, a Central Mountain graduate of 2021 attended the walk, and Riley was honored along with Cimarron & Ben. 22-Too Many also remembered all the heroes of Pennsylvania.